“One Belt, One Road” Unfolds Asia’s New Future

written by Chen Libing / translated by Gao Qianqian

“One Belt, One Road” Unfolds Asia’s New Future

written by Chen Libing / translated by Gao Qianqian

In recent years, the concept of “community of common destiny” is frequently mentioned in the bilateral meetings between Chinese leaders and foreign politicians, as well as international activities like the G20 and SCO summits. At the Boao Forum for Asia held in March 26-29, 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping once again clarifi ed the concept of “community of common destiny”, making it one of the buzzwords in today’s world, together with the “One Belt, One Road” and “AIIB”.

Literally, “community of common destiny”means to share both good fortune and misfortune. When referring to countries and regions, it means to share missions, interest and responsibility in politics, economy and culture. We should know that this concept is not a catchword, but a strategy. With the upsurge of the construction of “One Belt, One Road”, the blueprint of the “community of common destiny” is gradually unfolded.

Go Hand in Hand to Share a Common Destiny

As we all known, China and countries along the “One Belt, One Road” are as close to each other as the lips are to the teeth. They have ever established the world-renowned Silk Road. Entering the new era, the cooperation between these countries in politics, economy, and culture etc. are increasingly deepened. However, with the accelerated economic globalization, they are confronting new historical opportunities and challenges.

The “One Belt, One Road” region is mostly composed of emerging economies and developing countries, whose economic development are at different levels. Asia, which has 67% of the world’s population and contributes to one third of the global economy, is where numerous cultures and ethnic groups converge, making it the most complicated region in the world. With diversifi ed religions, distinct values, various territorial disputes and diff erent levels of economic development, this region boasts not only economic giants like China and Japan, but also the poorest and most chaotic areas.

One swallow doesn’t make a summer. Countries in the Asian region need to join hands to realize the economic destiny of the region. Only by turning regional diversity into the momentum for development could Asia bring its regional advantages into full play and realize common prosperity. However, a new impetus is needed in order to make this vision come true. For the Asian countries, the “community of common destiny” is the impetus, which would guide them to realize their dreams.

“History tells us that the all-round cooperation within the Asian region, which is based on the community of common destiny, will bring opportunities and welfare to the Asian countries. We need to point out that, as the engine for global economic growth, Asia’s development would also benefit the whole world”, said Badawi, former Prime Minister of Malaysia.

“One Belt, One Road” As the Backup

Both “One Belt, One Road” and the“community of common destiny” are major strategic decisions make by China to deepen regional cooperation and create a favorable surrounding environment in the new era. What are the connections between the two? And what does “One Belt, One Road” mean to the “community of common destiny”?

“The ‘One Belt, One Road’ has inherited the tradition of the ancient Silk Road – openness and inclusiveness, and absorbed the ‘open regionalism’ of the Asian countries, refl ecting the practical need of China to accelerate regional integration with its neighboring countries. From both the historical and realistic point of view, ‘One Belt, One Road’provides directions and strategic support for the construction of ‘community of common destiny’”, said Liu Zhi, Vice Chairman of China Society for Southeast Asian Studies. His opinions represent many of others, i.e.,“One Belt, One Road” is the bridge and bond for the construction of “community of common destiny”, while the latter is the objective and direction of the former.

“Community of common destiny” contains: mutual respect and equal treatment in politics; mutual benefits and common development in economy; peaceful coexistence and mutual help in security; inclusiveness and exchanges in culture. “One Belt, One Road” emphasizes “connectivity”which includes “policy communication”,“road connectivity”, “impeded trade”,“currency circulation” and “people-topeople exchanges”, highlighting pragmatic cooperation and project cooperation.

Therefore, we can say that by implementing“One Belt, One Road”, Asia is gradually realizing its objective of “community of common destiny”. With the advance of “One Belt, One Road”, the Asian countries could achieve common development and gain improvement in economic structures.

According to Qian Hongshan, assistant to China’s foreign minister, “One Belt, One Road” is the two wings for Asia’s takeoff. By focusing on economic cooperation and taking people-to-people exchanges as the backup, countries along the Belt and Road should actively develop cooperative partnership with an open and inclusive mind, so as to co-build a community of common interest and destiny which is featured by political mutual trust, economic integration and cultural inclusiveness.

Towards the “Community of Common Destiny”

Asians accounts for 67% of the world’s population, who contribute over 30% of the global economy. If such a big market could form a community, the economic benefi ts it brings could not be overlooked. Then, how could the “community of common destiny”come true?

On the opening ceremony of the 2015 Boao Forum for Asia held on March 26, 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized that the “community of common destiny” should proceed hierarchically, namely, to build the China-ASEAN community of common destiny, East Asia economic community and Asia community of common destiny step by step. At the same time, efforts must be made to meet the need of countries along the way via the “One Belt, One Road” initiative, so as to increase common interests of all parties within and outside the Asian region and comply to the regional and global cooperation trend.

With regard to this, Zhang Jianglin, Director of the Department of Economic Studies at the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, believed, the economic level and development stage of the 10 ASEAN countries differ from each other, which is the epitome of Asia’s development. A community of common destiny could be established in East Asia and even the entire Asia, by taking “One Belt, One Road” as the approaches to drive the development of Central Asia, West Asia and South Asia, and fi nally realize the Asian Community.

The statistics shows that, the “One Belt, One Road” region has a population of 4.4 billion and an economic output of $21 trillion. It will be developed into the longest, most dynamic and potential international economic corridor in the world. The release of the Vision and Action of Promoting the Co-construction of Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road marked the naissance of“One Belt, One Road” after one and a half years’ preparation. According to plan, the“One Belt, One Road” will connect China with its neighboring regions and promote mutual exchange of needed products and complementation of advantages among different regions through infrastructure connectivity and trade & investment facilitation, so as to weave a more intimate network of common interest and walk towards the community of common destiny.

Besides, the construction of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the $40 billion Silk Road fund would be a strong support for the “One Belt, One Road”, providing “hardware” for Asia’s economic development. They would help the dream of“community of common destiny” come true.

“Traveling alone, one goes fast; traveling together, one could go far”. It is gratifying that on the 2015 Boao Forum for Asia, the“community of common destiny” and “One Belt, One Road” initiatives had won supports from many countries. It is believed that the“One Belt, One Road”, safeguarded by the AIIB and Silk Road fund, would proceed smoothly and drive the economic take-off of Asia.